TV, Film, and Entertainment News Daily

Ex-Warner Bros. Chief Alan Horn to Head Walt Disney Studios

Former Warner Bros. President Alan Horn has been tapped to run Walt Disney Studios, replacing Rich Ross, who resigned as chairman in April following the disastrous performance of John Carter. The Hollywood Reporter broke the news, which was quickly confirmed in a press release from The Walt Disney Company.

Horn, who headed Warner Bros. for 12 years and oversaw such hits as the Harry Potter franchise, The Dark Knight, Sherlock Holmes and 300, was himself forced out of his job in 2011 amid tensions with Time Warner CEO Jeffrey Bewkes. Horn is currently an executive producer on Peter Jackson’s two-movie adaptation of The Hobbit.

He’ll assume his duties as Disney Studios chairman on June 11, overseeing the production, distribution and marketing of films from Disney, Pixar and Marvel, as well as the marketing and distribution for DreamWorks Studios releases.

“Alan not only has an incredible wealth of knowledge and experience in the business, he has a true appreciation of movie making as both an art and a business,” Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger said in a statement. “He’s earned the respect of the industry for driving tremendous, sustained creative and financial success, and is also known and admired for his impeccable taste and integrity. He brings all of this to his new role leading our studio group, and I truly look forward to working with him.”

Speculation on the potential contenders to replace Ross had centered on DreamWorks CEO Stacey Snider, producer Jerry Bruckheimer, and Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige who, although believed to be Iger’s top choice, was said not to be interested in the position.